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Fine Tuning My Long Winded Voice At She Speaks

I was on my hands and knees, cleaning up the inevitable spills from dinners long past. Tears mingled with spaghetti sauce, apple juice, and hair. I finished scrubbing, wiped my face with my sleeve, and thought, “Well, since I’m already down here.”

I turned over on my back, looked up at the heavens and began.

“Dear God,I can’t do this. I’m tired. I’m weary. Every ounce of self confidence has leaked out of every orifice. I talk, but it seems no one hears me. I feel invisible. I don’t know where I’ve gone. Please help me. I feel so alone. Amen

Silent reflective pause.

Is that yogurt on the ceiling?”

That was two years ago.

After watching his bedraggled wife dragging her knuckles on the floor, day after day, my husband remarked, “You need a blog.”

“What’s a blog?” secretly hoping it involved something to do with Kahlua and a tiny umbrella.

On July 26, 2006, It Coulda’ Been Worse was birthed. My husband, sensing I needed community, used his superhuman computer skills and hooked me up.

I’ve always enjoyed writing. I have journals for each of my children, and I looked forward to penning typing the annual family Christmas letter each year. Although, since the gift of brevity has alluded me, the postage on said Christmas letter was nearly the size of a small mortgage.

I am, however, blessed with the gift of exaggeration.

When I began my blog, I was on my own. Baptism by fire. But, over time, I began to find my voice. And on one bright warm morning, I discovered a community of women mommy bloggers, who thought nothing of openly discussing vomit, boogers, and hormone surges. And who would never judge me if I were to, say, bite into a rock hoping it was a piece of chocolate.

I’d found my people.

Knowing that I wasn’t alone, was such an immense relief to me. As a stay-at-home mom, especially one who homeschools, I could sometimes feel rather isolated. My life completely revolves around my family, as well it should.

But, God has created in us women, a desperate need for a sense of community. We are by design, communicators. I so desire to be a more effective communicator. Because I want to continue to reach other harried mommies, and let them know LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. And that the job that they are doing is an important one. A vital one.

We’re raising the next generation of leaders, ladies.

And also, I want other women to know that it’s okay to laugh at ourselves. Even in the most dire of circumstances. For me, it’s essential to my well being. And oh so much cheaper than therapy.

As a writer, there is an opportunity before me that I am so excited about. The She Speaks conference will be held in Concord, North Carolina, June 20 -22. The conference focuses not only on effective writing, speaking, and leadership skills, but this year, better blogging will be included as well. As you all well know, the blogging community has exploded in sheer numbers in the last two years. Advertisers are certainly sitting up and taking notice. And blogging can be such an effective ministry tool. Reaching many thousands of women, who just need to hear the sound of another voice. I have certainly been ministered to. And I want to be a more effective ministry as well. Women from all walks of life, with different backgrounds, and beliefs, stop in here daily for a cup of coffee. And a little levity. And we’re united in our desire to raise better children, while not giving into insanity. And if we spew a little coffee through our noses, well, so be it.

Because of my intense desire to be a more effective writer and communicator, I’m excited to tell you that Lisa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 ministries is offering a scholarship to attend this year’s She Speaks conference. My joy knows no bounds.

You cannot even imagine my excitement about this gathering of Godly women.

My children also have a say in all of this. They desperately want me to attend She Speaks because whenever mommy is out of town, they score breakfast, lunch, and dinner at McDonalds. And as an added bonus, they get to see a whole lot more of their grandparents.

Thank you Lord, for my sweet supportive husband. Who understands my need to attempt this. And isn’t afraid of ketchup stains on the carpet of the van.

And who knows? Perhaps there will even be a conference session on brevity when one is effectively communicating.

I believe I just heard the rather loud collective “AMEN SISTER.”

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30 Responses to Fine Tuning My Long Winded Voice At She Speaks

Ok, I will just go ahead and bow out of the running and congratulate you now because if I were one of the judges for the scholarship, I would vote for you to win with that very well written/spoken post. You rock!! ~Carol 🙂

All I can say is that I hope you get the chance to go. I remember having that staring at the yogurt on the ceiling moment too and it’s led me to a similar place. She Speaks got me off the floor and into the world of ministry.

Great post. And so true about the need to be connected. I’m way past the kiddie stage, but there’s something about Lysa and all of you that I can identify with. I get a little envious of all you mommies because it makes for so much great blogging.

Hello there! This is my first time visiting your blog (I’m relatively new to this world) – so funny and just what I needed after an intense evening of being “Lost”. I wish you much luck and hope you are able to attend the conference. Take care – I’ll be back.

I have no idea how I ended up on your site, but this is the first post I’ve read and I am trying not to wake up sleeping children, or spew the hot chocolate I’m drinking out my nose. It was a close one.
I can so relate to the desire not only to hear another (adult) voice, but to also find my voice. To know that I am capable of a rational thought and that maybe, just maybe, someone else needs to hear what I have to say today–since I know the children aren’t listening!
Hope you can attend the conference.

Oh Deedee, you always make me laugh. You always put a smile on my face whenever I visit here. OK, maybe there are time when you’re serious – I don’t laugh at those times – but really reading your blog brings joy….

Anyway, waht to know what I think? I think you ought to be in that panel – together with Boomama, Rocks In My Dryer, and Big Mama. Watch out … I am sure it will come…

Hi, I haven’t been around for a while – falling asleep with my daughter, nothing to do with you – but I have to say that I’d rather an interesting long post than a short one that lacks the richness of details. Of course, I tend to extra details, too… Good luck with the scholarship.

DeeDee – I don’t think you realize how many women you lift up every day! I see new names all the time. God is using you in a very cool way…keep it up! Can’t wait to hear about the conference!
OH! brevity/schmevity – if you keep it too short, I won’t have mascara running down my face at work because I’ve been laughing for so long!

I found you because I was randomly clicking on different blogs who entered the She Speaks conference contest. I wanted to comment…I have found a new blog to visit here. You seriously have a wonderful gift! I have laughed and been touched reading through your entries.

I saw the post from Lysa Terkeurst. I’m so glad for you, even if you don’t win the contest, you have your foot in the door for more publishing and recognition. God is good. =) Keep writing. It’s blogs like yours that inspire me to be more consistent with mine.

You know I adore you. I have no doubt that God uses you on a regular basis.

I’d love to see you win the scholarship ALTHOUGH I believe you are already incredibly effective at communicating. I feel like I know your kids (not in a crazy stalker way); you convey your emotions, your deep thoughts, your eyebrow issues, etc., all SO WELL. See, I don’t communicate as effectively; that last sentence stinks.

Anyway… I think you’re one of the best out there and I second the thought that NEXT YEAR you’ll be the one leading the blogging seminar. Love to you!